Ways to Prevent Cholesterol

What is Cholesterol???

Cholesterol is a chemical compound that is naturally produced by the body and is a combination of lipid (fat) and steroid. Cholesterol is a building block for cell membranes and for hormones like estrogen and testosterone. About 80% of the body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, while the rest comes from our diet.

Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Organ meats, such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol. After a meal, dietary cholesterol is absorbed from the intestine and stored in the liver. The liver is able to regulate cholesterol levels in the blood stream and can secrete cholesterol if it is needed by the body.

LDL Cholesterol is also known as "BAD" cholesterol, because elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL lipoprotein deposits cholesterol on the artery walls, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis.

HDL Cholesterol is known as "GOOD" cholesterol because HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from the artery walls and disposing of them through the liver. Thus, high levels of LDL cholesterol and low levels of HDL cholesterol (high LDL/HDL ratios) are risk factors for atherosclerosis, while low levels of LDL cholesterol and high level of HDL cholesterol (low LDL/HDL ratios) are desirable.

So, there is a need for us to prevent ourself from Cholesterol as it might lead to many health problem like heart disease, high blood pressure, and so on.

Below are some ways of prevention (effective yet low cost):

1. Eating a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat

2. Exercise

3. Manage your weight

4. Say "NO" to cigarettes

5. Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans (fiber food)

6. Take multivitamins (eg: 400 micro-gram of folic acid, 2mg of vitamin B6, 6mg of vitamin B12)

*Is never too late to start practicing now.......